Jay Leno gives wounded vet a Hellcat joyride...and the car

Leno and the soldier bond over shared car enthusiasm.

By the time you're finished watching the video below, you might find it to be a little dusty wherever you're sitting. Jay Leno sought to do something good to thank a a wounded American veteran for his or her service and sacrifice. Out of a pool of candidates, U.S. Army Corporal Ethan Laberge was selected at random, and Leno paid him a visit with a TV crew in tow.

Laberge was severely injured and two soldiers in his patrol were killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan. Shrapnel tore into his left leg and arm, causing multiple injuries to both, in addition to a lesser injury to his right leg plus a tramautic brain injury that continues to manifest itself in the form of memory problems, according to Today.

According to Leno, who meets many young veterans, it's usually hard to find things in common, largely due to the age gap—Leno is 64. But Cpl. Laberge is into cars, and Leno may be America's most famous auto enthusiast. So Leno brought along a brand-new Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and the pair took turns caning it around rural Kentucky roads.

Over lunch, Leno and Laberge talked about the challenges the latter has faced and continues to battle in the wake of his injury. When Laberge finished his stint at the wheel, Leno asked him how he liked the car. "That was awesome," he replied adding that he wouldn't mind having one himself. With that, Leno handed him the fob, saying, "It's yours. America loves you. Thank you, buddy."

Watch it all unfold:

It's all tied to Al Roker's Shine a Light campaign to raise money for the USO. You can donate by clicking here.

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